Revisiting Contribution Analysis

Abstract

The basic ideas behind contribution analysis were set out in 2001. Since then, interest in the approach has grown and contribution analysis has been operationalized in different ways. In addition, several reviews of the approach have been published and raise a few concerns. In this article, I clarify several of the key concepts behind contribution analysis, including contributory causes and contribution claims. I discuss the need for reasonably robust theories of change and the use of nested theories of change to unpack complex settings. On contribution claims, I argue the need for causal narratives to arrive at credible claims, the limited role that external causal factors play in arriving at contribution claims, the use of robust theories of change to avoid bias, and the fact that opinions of stakeholders on the contribution made are not central in arriving at contribution claims.

Beyond Indicators and Success Stories: An Emerging Method to Assess Social Learning in Large-Scale Transdisciplinary Research Programs

“…2 This research aimed to understand whether, and how, researchers' and practitioners' learning within these programs contributed to network-or system-level changes, and ultimately to wider outcomes and impacts. The programs under study were two major climate change research initiatives: the Collaborative Adaptation Research Initiative in Africa and Asia (CARIAA;2012-2018 and Future Climate For Africa (FCFA;-2019. Both programs explicitly sought to embed SL processes into their work with a view to enhancing collaboration and impact, albeit in different ways.…”

“…Contribution analysis adopts the perspective of generative causality-seeing causality as a chain of cause-effect events (Pawson and Tilley, 1997;Gates and Dyson, 2017). This view holds that an intervention is composed of a series, or several series, of causal steps between program activities and their desired contributions (Mayne, 2019). The causal links of these steps form an impact or contribution pathway (or pathways) through which particular activities or interventions contribute to observed outcomes.…”

“…We are also able to gain insights about the cumulative contributions of SL in large-scale programs. Importantly, the analysis process allows us to 1) reveal the learning dynamics in large program processes over time, 2) demonstrate the causal links between contribution pathways and program outcomes, 3) assess the extent to which SL is a necessary 3 contributory cause of the observed programmatic outcomes and impacts, and 4) build causal narratives of why and how SL has contributed to the wider program influence (Mayne, 2019).…”

“…The second step of Mayne's (2011) contribution analysis method is to develop a theory of change which describes a causal pathway between specific activities and their outcomes or impact, as well as the assumptions that informed the steps in that pathway (see Figure 2). Mayne (2019) notes that theories of change tend to be based on established social science theories "so that they can provide the basis for solid causal explanations" (p. 183). However, a deductive approach to data collection can limit our ability to uncover the structural drivers and barriers as well as the informal and emergent practices of SL, such as trust-building, coalition-building, and the processes of negotiating meaning.…”

“…The authors also seek to strengthen the credibility and dependability of the contribution story through an iterative process of assembling evidence and reassessing the contribution claims (Mayne, 2019). The focus of dependability is to ensure the consistency of findings over time.…”